甘苦寒滑,清痰降火,行经络、四肢、皮里、膜外之痰,凡痰因风热燥火者宜之,姜
汁为使。虚者与参同用,使人参固其经,竹沥通其络,则甘寒气味相得益彰。
甘平,开经络除风热,化痰行气血,为去风化痰之妙药,用牡荆俗名黄荆,烧取沥。
见肺和。
甘平,止渴润五脏,解酒毒。按∶葛根、葛花解酒毒而发散不如枳 。
甘温而滑,利五脏通血脉,开胸膈,下气调中,止渴润燥,根尤良。
甘平,补五脏,暖肠胃,调中,助十二经脉,肾病宜食之。豆叶利五脏、下气。豆腐
甘咸寒,清热散血,和脾胃消胀满,下大肠浊气。
大热有毒,用为向导可以通行一身之表,引药至极高之分,和血行气,逐秽暖水脏,最
能乱血动火致湿热诸病,醇而无灰、陈者良。按∶锻石能解酒酸,造酒家多用之,而有灰之
酒伤人。烧酒散寒破结,损人尤甚。
甘温,养神志安魂魄,通血脉调和五脏,治上盛下虚痰涎壅盛、吐逆、冷痛,杀精鬼
,小儿惊吐服之最效,为镇坠神丹也。硫黄合水银炼成。
甘滑,生性凉清,热熟性温,补中润燥解毒,调营卫通三焦,安五脏通便秘,止诸痛
和百药,与甘草同功,滑肠。同葱食害人,食蜜饱后食 令人暴亡。黄蜡甘淡微温性涩,止
痛生肌,续绝伤止泻痢。
[Moyao (Myrrh)] Bitter, neutral, enters the twelve meridians. It dissipates stagnant Qi and unblocks blood stasis, reduces swelling, relieves pain, and promotes tissue regeneration.
[Bai Mi (White Honey)] Sweet, bitter, cold, and slippery. It clears phlegm and descends fire, moves phlegm in the meridians, limbs, subcutaneous tissue, and extraperitoneal space. It is suitable for phlegm caused by wind-heat, dryness, or fire. Ginger juice serves as a guiding agent. For deficiency patterns, it is used with Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen) to secure the meridians, while Bamboo Sap (Zhuli) unblocks the collaterals; thus, their sweet-cold properties complement each other.
[Huang Jing Li (Extract of Vitex Negundo)] Sweet, neutral. It opens the meridians, dispels wind-heat, transforms phlegm, moves Qi and blood, and is an excellent drug for dispelling wind and transforming phlegm. It is prepared by burning Vitex negundo (commonly known as Huangjing) to extract the liquid.
[Ge Gen / Ge Hua (Kudzu Root / Kudzu Flower)] See "Fei He" (Lung Harmony). Sweet, neutral. It stops thirst, moistens the five Zang organs, and resolves alcohol toxicity. Note: Although Ge Gen and Ge Hua can resolve alcohol toxicity and have dispersing properties, their efficacy is inferior to that of Hovenia Dulcis Seed (Zhizi).
[Cong Bai (Scallion White)] Sweet, warm, and slippery. It benefits the five Zang organs, unblocks blood vessels, opens the chest and diaphragm, directs rebellious Qi downward, harmonizes the Middle Jiao, stops thirst, and moistens dryness. The root is particularly effective.
[Suan (Garlic)] Sweet, warm. It benefits the five Zang organs, nourishes the Liver, and harmonizes the Middle Jiao. The root benefits the Stomach and improves vision; the leaves burned to ash treat dysentery.
[Dou (Soybean) and its products] Sweet, neutral. It tonifies the five Zang organs, warms the intestines and stomach, harmonizes the Middle Jiao, assists the twelve meridians, and is suitable for Kidney disease. Soybean leaves benefit the five Zang organs and direct Qi downward. Tofu is sweet, salty, and cold; it clears heat, dissipates blood stasis, harmonizes the Spleen and Stomach, reduces distension, and drains turbid Qi from the Large Intestine.
[Shao Jiu (Baijiu/Distilled Spirit)] Very hot and toxic. Used as a guiding agent, it circulates through the exterior of the whole body and guides medicinal properties to the highest levels. It harmonizes blood, moves Qi, expels filth, and warms the Water Organ (Kidney). However, it most easily disturbs blood, agitates fire, and causes various damp-heat diseases. The pure, ash-free, aged variety is superior. Note: Calcined Gypsum (Duan Shi) can resolve wine acidity and is often used by brewers, but wine containing ash harms people. Distilled spirits disperse cold and break stagnation but cause even greater harm to the human body.
[Liu Huang (Sulfur)] Sweet, warm. It nourishes the spirit, calms the soul, unblocks blood vessels, harmonizes the five Zang organs, treats conditions of excess above and deficiency below with copious salivary phlegm, vomiting, reversal, and cold pain, eliminates evil spirits, and is most effective for infantile convulsions and vomiting. It is considered a heavy sedative elixir. It is refined from sulfur mixed with mercury.
[Cha (Tea)] Assists Yang Qi and moves the meridians. Drinking tea boiled only halfway damages Yuan Qi and causes distension.
[Yan (Salt)] Salty, warm, and slippery. It penetrates the meridians and treats deafness, bi-syndrome (painful obstruction), carbuncles, and swellings. It is not used in decoctions or pills.
[Feng Mi (Honey)] Sweet, slippery. Raw honey is cool and clear; cooked honey is warm. It tonifies the Middle, moistens dryness, detoxifies, regulates Ying and Wei, unblocks the Triple Burner, calms the five Zang organs, relieves constipation, stops various pains, harmonizes hundred herbs, and has effects similar to Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao); it also lubricates the intestines. Consuming it with scallions harms people. Eating dates after consuming honey until full can cause sudden death. Huang La (Yellow Beeswax) is sweet, bland, slightly warm, and astringent. It stops pain, promotes tissue regeneration, heals severe injuries, and stops dysentery and diarrhea.